Shoot-out to decide gun spot with Williams

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What will happen to Jaguar and who will partner Mark Webber in
the Williams-BMW team next year are two of the major talking points
of the post-racing formula one season.

The game of brinkmanship over the Jaguar team is continuing,
with Red Bull and a British consortium known as Brand Synergy,
headed by former champion Nigel Mansell, both believed to be
negotiating to buy the Ford-owned team.

The problem facing Ford is that if it doesn't sell the team by
the November 15 deadline on entries for next year's championship,
and doesn't compete, it will face million-dollar fines over a
breach of its contract, which puts the bargaining power in the
hands of the buyers.

Jaguar arrived in formula one in 2000 after taking over the team
established by Jackie Stewart. Hopes were high, but in five
underachieving (and latterly under-funded) seasons, the team scored
only two third places and no wins from 84 races.

Sources close to Jaguar Racing said that associates of Brand
Synergy, which had recently tried to take over the British Grand
Prix, were having confidential talks with HSBC, the bankers
handling the sale of the formula one team on behalf of Ford.

Also in the melting pot is the future of Ford-owned
engine-builder Cosworth, which has been put on the market.

Meanwhile, the Williams team is reported to be planning a
four-driver shoot-out to decide who will be Webber's teammate.

The contenders are Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia, young British F1
test driver Anthony Davidson, Scottish veteran David Coulthard and
German Nick Heidfeld. Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi is also thought to
be under consideration for the spot.

The selection process follows the abortive attempt by Englishman
Jenson Button to switch from this year's big improver, BAR-Honda,
to Williams, a move which has been delayed until at least 2006 by a
decision of the F1 Contracts Recognition Board.

Webber will drive a Williams for the first time on November 24
in Barcelona, with the shoot-out to decide his teammate likely to
be held there soon after.

Don't count on a driver choice being made soon, though.

According to Williams' technical director, Australian Sam
Michael, it could take two months to choose the driver. Williams is
not a team which puts a premium on the peace of mind of its
drivers, or potential drivers.

The favourite, according to the tipsters, is Pizzonia, who raced
four times this year when subbing for the injured Ralf Schumacher,
but the Brazilian partnered Webber at Jaguar last year and was
replaced mid-season after a succession of poor results.

Coulthard, at 33 and the winner of 13 grands prix, has made a
strong pitch to take the seat. After nine years with McLaren he has
lost his place to Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya.

Coulthard visited the Williams factory in England last week to
state his case for a return to the team where he got his F1 start
in 1994, after the death of Brazilian Ayrton Senna.